If we already have a curriculum our family uses at home, what options do we have to be part of Forge? 

Forge offers familes a variety of options for membership. First, families can choose to participate in our Weekday Program. This means they can participate in Academic Day, Enrichment Day, or both.  Another option for participating in Forge is to join our General Ministry. General ministry families have full access to our calendar of events. This is where we post field trips, service opportunities, park play dates, Bible studies, parent events, and more. We aim to have community fellowship opportunities at least twice a month, and we strive to serve together at least once per month. Additionally, we have events that take place all throughout the school year and breaks. General Ministry membership is $25 per family for the entire year, with membership running from May through April. 

Is Forge a direct-pay provider for the Step Up Scholarship?

We are not a direct pay provider at this time. However, we are happy to provide necessary receipts and payment invoices for you to submit for reimbursement. Our families have been very successful in receiving reimbursement with the detailed documentation we provide. 

What factors are considered for an applying family? Is it first-come, first served? 

There are many factors considered when reviewing family applications. For all applications, we are looking to ensure parents acknowledge our Christian mission and align with Biblical values. We are not evaluating your family on a social scale, determining how you can best meet our needs, or figuring out what shared friends we have. Our heart is for the Lord first, and our families second. If you can say the same, then we look forward to meeting you.

For our Weekday Program, there are a few more factors. We will ask for a detailed testimony from both parents, and we like to learn a bit about your calling to homeschool. Additionally, every applying family will conduct an interview with our leadership team, where we can get to know you better. Some of our questions may ask about curriculum preferences, schooling philosophy, willingness to serve, approach to Christian conflict resolution, and more.

Another strong consideration is availability of seats. We believe it does a disservice to a family if we extend acceptance to only part of your family, so we do not offer partial enrollment for a family. If we are not able to accommodate your entire family, we will let you know that our current enrollment is full, but we would be happy to place your family on a waitlist

How many students do you have, and how many can you accomodate? 

Our ministry maintains class sizes no larger than 12 students per class. Depending on enrollment, some classes consist of multiple grades, which means we may have less availability in those grades. Our enrollment is an ongoing dance as we work to support as many families as possible while also maintaining the most positive learning environment for our students.

If you have a specific grade you are interested in, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] and we will do our best to share up-to-date availability for that particular grade level.

If I participate in the Weekday Program, may I (or my student) attend for only part of the day? 

At this time, enrollment preference is given to families who intend to participate in all three hours of our Weekday Program. While we recognize there are situations in which a student may have already taken a course or has a unique learning need, we expect that a family will stay with us for all three hours of each day. This allows a chance for fellowship, learning, and consistency for both families, guides, and our ministry as a whole

Am I required to use the curriculum chosen by the ministry for the Weekday Program's Academic day? 

Part of our interview process includes detailed conversations about curriculum selections. If you are choosing to participate in our Academic Day, you are also committing to the chosen texts in their entirety.

Does the Weekday Program include homework? 

Forge values a restful approach to homeschool, which supports families having quality time together. That said, we also recognize that we cannot adequately school a student in one day per week at Forge. This means that much of your student’s education takes place within the walls of your home.

With that in mind, we do assign homework at a developmentally appropriate level. Language Arts in every grade will almost always have some element of home requirements, whether it be reviewing phonics, practicing sight words, reading a literature selection, or drafting a paper. For history and science, home assignments will depend more on grade level. All courses will have a 12-week schedule so parents and students are aware of expectations and can plan accordingly.

We are new to homeschooling. Where do we start? 

First, take a deep breath!! You've made an excellent decision, and we are so excited to come alongside your family! 

Requirements for homeschooling can vary by county. We encourage you to research home education for your particular county so you ensure you meet all requirements. 

If you live in St Johns County, please visit this link: https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/homeeducation/

If you live in Duval County, please visit this link: https://www.duvalschools.org/page/home-education/

Our leadership team would love to support you on your homeschool journey. Feel free to reach out to us if you would like to pray with someone, ask questions, or just be encouraged! 

How will my homeschooled high school student get a transcript? 

Our high school curriculum advisors will work with each family to build personalized transcripts for your student. There are many online tools to support the actual development of the document, but we look forward to sitting with your family, personalizing the document, answering questions, and offering advice based on your goals for your student.

We will ensure your student’s transcript is accurate, sufficient, and tailored for their next steps.

Does my high school student need to get his / her GED? 

Homeschoolers do not need to get a GED. Their home education program is equivalent to a standard high school program. Please note, there is no diploma issued by the public school system for the completion of a home education program.

A signed affidavit of completion, which is a notarized letter submitted by the student’s parent, will attest that the student has completed an appropriate program pursuant to the requirements of s.1002.41, F.S., and is a legal document of completion. This statement can be included on a student’s academic transcript or parent-issued diploma.